Handicapping the mayor’s race: Yard sign edition

Drove around Dallas north of Northwest Highway for 90 minutes on Sunday in search of mayoral campaign yard signs (and spent $3.40 a gallon gas in the process — talk about dedication). We’ve had several discussions over the years about whether yard signs matter; the general consensus seems to be that they’re one indication of who is doing better than someone else.

In this case, with the mayoral election eight weeks away, I learned two things. First, if yard signs matter, this election is a huge yawner. I drove the mosh pit of Dallas city politics, where people actually vote and elections are decided — Belt Line south to Northwest Highway, and the Richardson city line to just west of the tollway. Most of the neighborhoods didn’t have any yard signs, and those I did see had one or two a block, tops. Yes, it wasn’t a scientific survey, but if those people aren’t interested, will anyone be?

Second, I saw Rawlings yard signs. I saw Kunkle yard signs. I saw Pray to Save America yard signs. I saw yard signs for high school athletics. But I didn’t see one Ron Natinsky yard sign. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Assuming Natinsky is doing yard signs (and his web site says he is), this must mean something. But I have no idea what that it is. It’s just too surreal to make any sense of.